Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has asked US President Donald Trump to remove tariffs on Brazilian goods and lift sanctions on Brazilian officials during a phone call, according to the presidential office in Brasília.

A 50% tariff was applied to a significant share of Brazil's exports to the US in April in retaliation for what Trump has called a "witch hunt" against former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.

What did Trump and Lula talk about?

The conversation lasted about 30 minutes, during which Lula requested the withdrawal of a 40% surcharge an existing 10% levy on Brazilian exports and the end of restrictions on certain officials.

Lula's office described the conversation as "friendly" and "positive."

Both leaders agreed to meet in person soon, with Lula proposing that the meeting take place during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia starting October 26.

The Brazilian head of state reminded Donald Trump "that Brazil is one of the three G20 countries with which the United States maintains a surplus in the balance of goods and services," the office said. 

During the conversation, which took place "in a friendly tone," the leaders recalled "the good chemistry they had in New York during the UN General Assembly," and "exchanged phone numbers to establish a direct line of communication," according to Brasilia.

Donald Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to follow up on the negotiations.

What led to the tariffs on Brazil?

The US and Brazil are experiencing an unprecedented diplomatic crisis triggered partly by Brazil's presidency of the BRICS bloc, but mainly by the process that led to the sentencing of former President Jair Bolsonaro — a political ally of Trump — to 27 years and three months in prison.

Trump, who views the trial as a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro, has been repeatedly warned by Lula da Silva that Brazilian sovereignty is not up for discussion between the two countries.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn